Migraines and Higher Heart Trouble Risk: Is There A Link?

Migraine sufferers might have to worry about more than just dealing with debilitating headaches.

Migraine patients could also face an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

The risk to heart health appears to be strongest in the first year after diagnosis of migraine, but persists for as long as two decades, said lead researcher Dr. Kasper Adelborg. He is a postdoctoral fellow of clinical epidemiology at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.

Migraines: Statistics

Migraine affects about 15 percent of people, mainly women, and was the second leading cause of years lost to disability in 2016, according to background information provided by the researchers.

Migraines: Research Results

The findings showed that migraine patients more frequently suffered a host of heart- and blood vessel-related health problems.

Migraines remained linked to these heart problems even after researchers took into account other risk factors, such as excess weight or smoking.

Migraines: How To Link To Heart Problems?

Cerebral arteries sometimes suddenly constrict during a migraine, which could increase stroke risk. People suffering from a migraine also often lie down for long periods of time, which can make blood clots more likely.